Previous Years' Course Catalogues

An examination of religious myths, beliefs and experiences that express and contribute to transgenerational traumatic responses in communities and individuals. Exploration of ways religious narratives reveal multiple levels of psychodynamic processes that organize and give symbolic form to anxiety, grief, loss deriving from personal (abuse, neglect) and social realities (Holocaust; war; violent social strife). Trauma stories from different religious traditions (Christianity: Crucifixion; Judaism: emergence of monotheism; Abraham and Isaac; Job) and popular spiritualities will be explored, focussing on ways they may induce and symoblize trauma including ways they provide resources for healing.

An examination of religious myths, beliefs and experiences that express and contribute to transgenerational traumatic responses in communities and individuals. Exploration of ways religious narratives reveal multiple levels of psychodynamic processes that organize and give symbolic form to anxiety, grief, loss deriving from personal (abuse, neglect) and social realities (Holocaust; war; violent social strife). Trauma stories from different religious traditions (Christianity: Crucifixion; Judaism: emergence of monotheism; Abraham and Isaac; Job) and popular spiritualties will be explored, focussing on ways they may induce and symbolize trauma including ways they provide resources for healing.

An examination of religious myths, beliefs and experiences that express and contribute to transgenerational traumatic responses in communities and individuals. Exploration of ways religious narratives reveal multiple levels of psychodynamic processes that organize and give symbolic form to anxiety, grief, loss deriving from personal (abuse, neglect) and social realities (Holocaust; war; violent social strife). Trauma stories from different religious traditions (Christianity: Crucifixion; Judaism: emergence of monotheism; Abraham and Isaac; Job) and popular spiritualties will be explored, focussing on ways they may induce and symbolize trauma including ways they provide resources for healing.

An examination of religious myths, beliefs and experiences that express and contribute to transgenerational traumatic responses in communities and individuals. Exploration of ways religious narratives reveal multiple levels of psychodynamic processes that organize and give symbolic form to anxiety, grief, loss deriving from personal (abuse, neglect) and social realities (Holocaust; war; violent social strife). Trauma stories from different religious traditions (Christianity: Crucifixion; Judaism: emergence of monotheism; Abraham and Isaac; Job) and popular spiritualities will be explored, focussing on ways they may induce and symoblize trauma including ways they provide resources for healing.

Stewart Clegg has suggested that, “the ‘forgetting’ of power may yet be the ‘fate of our time’.” His caution signals how the more difficult it becomes to locate the source and nature of power amidst the complexity of social and political life, the harder it is to discern power’s presence, employ it effectively, or resist it when necessary. This course addresses a ‘forgetting’ of power in Christian theology. Although various approaches to contemporary political theology imply differing conceptions of the workings of power, seldom is the concept itself the focus of direct analysis. Without a fully developed concept of power, effortsto advance a coherent political theology, or to resolve problems in ecclesiology more generally, leave many questions unaddressed and numerous tensions obscured. In addition to analyzing both the limitations and untapped resources regarding the concept ofpower within the Christian tradition, the course will also engage wider debates over the nature of power by making the concept of ‘powerlessness’ a significant topic for discussion. For as contemporary scholars investigate the nature of power as both an oppressive and productive force, the Christian tradition’s wrestling with the significance of being without power, and its reflections on whether this is always an inherently negative situation, promises to offer a unique contribution to debates over the nature of power.

Stewart Clegg has suggested that,'the forgetting' of power may yet be the 'fate of our time' His caution signals how the more difficult it becomes to locate the source and nature of power amidst the complexity of social and political life, the harder it is to discern power, presence, employ it effectively, or resist it when necessary. This course addresses a 'forgetting' of power in Christian theology. Although various approaches to contemporary political theology imply differing conceptions of the workings of power, seldom is the concept itself the focus of direct analysis. Without a fully developed concept of power, effortsto advance a coherent political theology, or to resolve problems in ecclesiology more generally, leave many questions unaddressed and numerous tensions obscured. In addition to analyzing both the limitations and untapped resources regarding the concept ofpower within the Christian tradition, the course will also engage wider debates over the nature of power by making the concept of 'powerlessnes' a significant topic for discussion. For as contemporary scholars investigate the nature of power as both an oppressive and productive force, the Christian tradition, wrestling with the significance of being without power, and its reflections on whether this is always an inherently negative situation, promises to offer a unique contribution to debates over the nature of power.

Stewart Clegg has suggested that, “the ‘forgetting’ of power may yet be the ‘fate of our time’.” His caution signals how the more difficult it becomes to locate the source and nature of power amidst the complexity of social and political life, the harder it is to discern power’s presence, employ it effectively, or resist it when necessary. This course addresses a ‘forgetting’ of power in Christian theology. Although various approaches to contemporary political theology imply differing conceptions of the workings of power, seldom is the concept itself the focus of direct analysis. Without a fully developed concept of power, effortsto advance a coherent political theology, or to resolve problems in ecclesiology more generally, leave many questions unaddressed and numerous tensions obscured. In addition to analyzing both the limitations and untapped resources regarding the concept ofpower within the Christian tradition, the course will also engage wider debates over the nature of power by making the concept of ‘powerlessness’ a significant topic for discussion. For as contemporary scholars investigate the nature of power as both an oppressive and productive force, the Christian tradition’s wrestling with the significance of being without power, and its reflections on whether this is always an inherently negative situation, promises to offer a unique contribution to debates over the nature of power.

Stewart Clegg has suggested that,'the forgetting' of power may yet be the 'fate of our time' His caution signals how the more difficult it becomes to locate the source and nature of power amidst the complexity of social and political life, the harder it is to discern power, presence, employ it effectively, or resist it when necessary. This course addresses a 'forgetting' of power in Christian theology. Although various approaches to contemporary political theology imply differing conceptions of the workings of power, seldom is the concept itself the focus of direct analysis. Without a fully developed concept of power, effortsto advance a coherent political theology, or to resolve problems in ecclesiology more generally, leave many questions unaddressed and numerous tensions obscured. In addition to analyzing both the limitations and untapped resources regarding the concept ofpower within the Christian tradition, the course will also engage wider debates over the nature of power by making the concept of 'powerlessnes' a significant topic for discussion. For as contemporary scholars investigate the nature of power as both an oppressive and productive force, the Christian tradition, wrestling with the significance of being without power, and its reflections on whether this is always an inherently negative situation, promises to offer a unique contribution to debates over the nature of power.

Challenges of religious pluralism to Christianity appearing from outside Christianity, and responses to it. How do other world religious traditions think about Christianity or religions for that matter? What are the theoretical problems of religious pluralism and the response to them from within Christianity?

Challenges of religious pluralism to Christianity appearing from outside Christianity, and responses to it. How do other world religious traditions think about Christianity or religions for that matter? What are the theoretical problems of religious pluralism and the response to them from within Christianity?

Challenges of religious pluralism to Christianity appearing from outside Christianity, and responses to it. How do other world religious traditions think about Christianity or religions for that matter? What are the theoretical problems of religious pluralism and the response to them from within Christianity? Discussions of selected readings and occasional lectures as appropriate.

Challenges of religious pluralism to Christianity appearing from outside Christianity, and responses to it. How do other world religious traditions think about Christianity or religions for that matter? What are the theoretical problems of religious pluralism and the response to them from within Christianity? Discussions of selected readings and occasional lectures as appropriate.